Why You Must Stop At Times

Some days, despite your best efforts, you struggle to get anything done. Perhaps you’re battling a cold, or one of your kids wake you up in the middle of the night, or you had some an emergency that caused you to get little sleep. The reasons are endless. Don’t be surprised when it happens.

Try your best to limit those days. Nevertheless, they’ll happen, and you must deal with them.

Sometimes, you may be able to push through and still get your work done—depending on the nature of your work. Sometimes, you may be able to get light work done, such as cleaning up your inbox, sorting through your documents, or organizing your files.

However, most times, your best option is to stop and deal with the situation you’re facing (i.e., the sickness, the lack of sleep, the emergency, etc.). There’s no point to drive your car on an empty tank; you risk running out of gas and get stranded in the middle of nowhere. And then what?

If you’re an achiever—someone who loves working and getting things done—you may prefer being tortured than to be forced to stay away from the field and rest on the sideline for a day or two. But as I said, sometimes, it’s your best option. Be sensitive to your body.

Of course, you must not let minor inconveniences stop your progress. In other words, don’t find excuses not to do your work. Other people may not know when you’re making excuses not to do you work—like a teenager pretending to be sick to skip school—but you know. Don’t let yourself off the hook when you’re making excuses.

When you can, get someone to replace you and carry some of your tasks. That may not always be possible, but if it is, consider that option.

Don’t beat yourself down for things you can’t control. You’re on the journey of life like everyone else, and on this journey, some storms force you to stay home and rest.